Roots Of Madness

Constructive, Loyal, progressive

recorded in San Jose sometime in 1970-1

goodbye dad  9:50

geoff: vocals, alto sax

dave: alto sax

don  ( first solo ) & jim: guitars

chris: bass

gary: drums

buddy chapman: clarinet

patrick evans: trumpet

joe morrow: trombone

This song was dedicated to my Dad, Donald C Campau right before he and  my Mom moved to Washington State.

realization 2  12:09

I cannot remember who played what except for Gary played drums. Everyone made a variety of sounds. Inspired primarily by Stockhausen.

This experimental tune featured music boxes, noise, drums, shortwave radio and chaos and became the signature, and opening tune on our 1971 LP.

i love you 4:06

geoff: vocals

don: lap steel guitar

chris: bass: 

gary: drums

As close to a rock song as we ever did, Geoff gives a dynamic and dramatic reading of his perverted lyrics.

nihility in being  1:10

joe: vocals and lyrics

gary: cymbals

Joe recites some militant poetry. Also on the LP.

untitled  7:06

More freeform, free jazz, inspired nonsense with a vaguely minor key melodic theme.It almost swings.

don: bass

gary: drums

joe: trombone

geoff: alto sax

dave: alto sax

judge roy spinner preaches  3:06

joe: introduction to the preacher

geoff: plays judge roy spinner

guitar piece  :038

The judge warns everyone what will happen if they touch themselves.

don: acoustic guitar

untitled 7:02

don: guitar

]gary: drums

don had been working with these themes and worked i9t into an improv with brother gary on drums

Roots Of Madness ( short history )

The Roots Of Madness were a group founded by Geoff Alexander and Don Campau in about 1969 in San Jose, California.

The group also included Joe Morrow, Jim Kulczynski, Dave Leskovsky, Patrick Evans, and Don’s brothers Gary and Chris, and Geoff’s sisters Vickie and occasionally Diane.  There were also cameo appearances by other friends and relatives at various times.

This was an avant grade,  ad hoc, high school friendship ensemble that was influenced by artists such as Albert Tyler, Pharaoh Sanders, Capt Beefheart, Karlheinz Stockhausen, primitive ethnic music and a host of other influences.

The Roots did their first practice in the back of The Leskovsky’s VW van. The Roots of Madness recorded their raw pieces, generally improvised on a reel to reel tape recorder owned by Geoff’s parents.

During their existence from 1969-1976, The Roots recorded one LP, “The Girl In The Chair” ( on the Dogmouth label) that was later re-issued by the De Stijl label from Minneapolis in 2005. The cover art work was a collage and drawing by the late artist Peter Blind and the liner notes were written by our mentor, Lorenzo W. Milam ( who sings the final song under the guise of PP McFeelie.

Later, 16 other CDRs were released with the remaining material from the reel to reel tapes.

More information ( and free downloads ) can be had at doncampau.com

The name of the group was derived from a film on China by Theodore White. ( “China: The Roots Of Madness”).

The Roots played very few live gigs. Occasionally they would perform in laundromats, overpass bridges, in the KTAO radio studios,  in a record store ( Dogmouth Records ) owned by Geoff and Don, and one , more formal gig at Forbes Mill in Los Gatos ( Don could not show for the gig) . The gig also featured Russell Ferrante ( The Yellowjackets) and Danny Hull, local alto sax player.

The Roots Of Madness were spawned as  an outgrowth of “Free Music” often hosted by John Hayden Gourley , at his house in the late 60s. This featured free jazz improvisation and a do anything approach.

"more info and catalog":http://doncampau.com/

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews